Ezekiel 33 : 7-20 3 rd Sunday in Lent February 28, 2016 BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH & PRESCHOOL 5110 Grand Avenue, Gurnee, Illinois 60031 (847) 244-9647 Pastor Ben Squires Cell phone: 224-419-5519 or email: pastor@bethelgurnee.org Website: www.bethelgurnee.org
WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Holy Communion: 1st, 3rd, 5th Sunday of the month Becky Lanzito & Karen Leicht - Organists, Ann Souza - Music Director, Mandi Stilson Choir/New Music Accompanist WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS We are pleased you chose to be with us in worship today, and pray the Lord blesses you as he has blessed us with your presence. Our goal is to help people find the right place for them to hear God s word and serve His mission. We d love to support you in that spiritual journey. Please take a moment to complete an attendance card and place it in the Offering plate or give to an usher. This card will help us connect with you. NURSERY We have two rooms available for your use. When the service is in the sanctuary, the nursery is down the hall just past the restrooms. If the service is held in the gym, the nursery is in the youth room at the far end of the gym. SERVING TODAY ALTAR FLOWERS ARE PROVIDED BY: Shelly Adams and family in remembrance of Shelly's grandmother whose birthday would have been this week. 2
NEHEMIAH SERVICE Worship in a traditional order that uses portions of the book of Nehemiah. Opening Hymn Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise LSB 802 3
Invocation (Based on selections from Nehemiah 8) P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. P: All the people gathered into the square. And they told Ezra the scribe, C: Bring the Book of the Law of Moses, Bring the Word of the Lord to us. P: And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, C: Amen, Amen. P: They lifted up their hands. They bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord. This day is holy to our Lord. C: The joy of the Lord is our strength. Amen. Confession and Absolution (Based on selections from Nehemiah 1) P: O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, C: let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servants that we now pray before You day and night, confessing the sins we have committed against You. We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that You commanded. P: Lord, remember the word that You gave to Your servant Moses, If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. C: But Lord also remember that You promised: If you return to Me, even though you are outcasts, I will gather you and bring you to the place that I have chosen, to make My Name dwell there. P: God has indeed heard your prayers and remembers His promise to gather you again to Himself, so that you may dwell with Him for eternity. By His Holy Spirit, you are the Lord s servants and His people, whom God has redeemed by His great power and by His strong hand, by the death and resurrection of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Your sins are forgiven in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen! Thanks be to God! 4
Song of Praise Open the Eyes of My Heart 5
Prayer of the Day P: Let us pray. O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. Epistle (New Testament Letter) 1 Corinthians 10:1 13 (ESV) 1 I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. L: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Anthem Softly and Tenderly Adult Choir Holy Gospel Luke 13:1 9 (ESV) 1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 6
6 And he told this parable: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground? 8 And he answered him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down. L: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Children s Message Verse for the Season Joel 2:13b LSB 157 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Old Testament Reading Ezekiel 33:7 20 (ESV) [And the Lord said to Ezekiel:] 7 So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 10 And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live? 11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? 7
12 And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. 13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. 14 Again, though I say to the wicked, You shall surely die, yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, 15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16 None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live. 17 Yet your people say, The way of the Lord is not just, when it is their own way that is not just. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. 19 And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by them. 20 Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not just. O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways. P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Hymn of the Day God Loved the World So That He Gave LSB 571 sts. 1 4 8
Sermon Who Made You Judge...of God? Ezekiel 33:7-20 Offering Preface (Based on selections from Nehemiah 9) P: You are the Lord, You alone. C: You have made heaven, even the highest heavens, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve all of them; and the multitudes of heaven worship You. P: You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for You knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. C: And You made a name for Yourself for all generations. P: And You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and You threw Pharaoh s army into the depths like a stone into mighty waters. C: By a pillar of cloud You led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night. P: You are the Lord, You alone. We remember Your graciousness and blessings to Your people throughout all generations. C: You have kept Your promise, for You are righteous. Amen. Offering & Prayer Requests In addition to the prayer requests already received, Pastor will pause here to see if there are additional requests. Prayers can be thanksgivings, joy, requests for yourself, or requests for others. Offertory Prayer P: Gracious God, your love for us is revealed in the gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. You call us to make these gifts evident in our lives. Receive and bless this offering as a symbol of our thanksgiving and as a sign of our commitment to be prophetic witnesses of your love and mercy. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. C: Amen. Prayers 9
The Lord s Prayer P: Lord, remember us in Your kingdom, and teach us to pray: All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Confession of Faith Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Benedicamus Domino ( Let us bless, the Lord ) & Benediction (Blessing) P: Rise up and bless the Lord your God (Based on Nehemiah 9:5 & Psalm 126:3,6) from everlasting to everlasting. C: Blessed be Your glorious name, O Lord; Your Name is exalted above all blessing and praise. P: The Lord has done great things for us; Those who come before the Lord weeping shall now go with shouts of joy, because of the Lord s great mercy, love, and strength. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. 10
Closing Hymn O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace LSB 693 Announcements Acknowledgements Used by permission: LSB Hymn License.NET, no. 000013448. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 11
We have a great need for volunteers and are asking for your help! The Rummage Sale is the preschool's major annual fundraiser. Sign-up today on the sheet displayed in the preschool hallway or visit http://tinyurl.com/preschoolrummage2016. There are many ways to pitch in, absolutely no experience necessary! - TODAY starting after late service: lots of help needed to set-up tables and bring rummage that has accumulated into the gym. - Monday, February 29 - Friday March 4 - sorting, folding, organizing and pricing rummage. - Saturday, March 5 - Rummage Sale Day! Lots of ways to help! We'll need cashiers, baggers, people to carry items, people to fold and organize, and people to direct shoppers. Lots of strong helpers needed for our clean-up crew toward the end of the event: load remaining rummage into trucks for Love INC and Cancer Federation, put away tables and prepare the gym for worship the next morning. Spanish translators also needed. There's a delicious, free lunch and snacks provided for all workers on Saturday. Please consider signing up to help!! Our volunteers are critical. Sharing even a couple of hours makes a huge impact to the success of the sale. Additionally, this is always a fun week getting to know our Bethel church and preschool families, practicing spiritual conversations, and catching up with old friends! Rummage Drop-off Begins TODAY after late service and continues Monday Wednesday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. each day. (Drop-off will be unavailable from 3:00-6:00 p.m. each day and the door to the gym will be locked.) We ask that all items are dropped off by Thursday morning March 3 to allow for sorting and pricing. Accepted Items: Clothes, baby items, toys, games, knick knacks, linens, kitchen items, books, shoes, etc. (Please, no computers or TV's.) If you have a larger item you wish to donate, such as furniture, we ask that you please contact the Preschool Office (847) 244-9672 or preschool@bethelgurnee.org, to make sure we can accept the item. 12